MODELING, CONTROL AND RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF PV EMULATOR

Abstract

The depletion of non-renewable energy sources, combined with fatal environmental concerns such as global warming, pollution and rising fuel prices have prompted researchers to investigate alternatives to traditional power sources. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind have grown in popularity over the last few decades. Solar energy has attracted widespread attention because of its immense potential, inexhaustible supply and environmentally friendly nature. Solar PV system research is heavily influenced by manufacturing costs, area, intermittent solar irradiation and peak power retrieval for trying multiple configurations. It is critical to model, design, control and finally emulate photovoltaic panels for optimal utilization. PV technology is also catching up to the incentives offered by governments all over the world. Power electronics is used to link up these renewable energy systems in an equitable way. A PV Emulator (PVE) is able to simulate many different types of solar panels in a wide range of temperature and weather conditions as a sterile environment to test photovoltaic equipment is difficult. When compared to a real PV panel, PVE simulate it more aptly and provides a more controlled environment for testing. It will also provide better control and thus allowing more accurate testing of PV equipment. The main advantage is that a new solar panel can be simulated by modifying the PV panel within the emulator, thereby rescuing the inconvenience of buying a brand-new PV panel and connecting it for testing. This thesis identified the scope of research in the following directions: • The mathematical model approach for the simulation of a solar panel under different conditions. • Emulators used a single reference diode model or a look-up-table method to simulate a PV Panel. Reference models using more than one diode models effectively change the performance of PVE. • The control strategies improvised by AI, hybrid and Non-linear controllers provide better performance indices. • The performance analysis of PVE based on its reliability and availability. Following are the major contributions of this Ph.D. work: • Mathematical modeling of PVE with ideal and non-ideal components. • Implementation of two diode and three diode reference model in feedback loop. v • Comparing the results obtained by lookup table and diode models for better analysis. • Implementation of different controllers on a PVE for better understanding of system ranging from conventional to hybrid, AI based and non-linear robust controllers. • Reliability and availability-based performance analysis of designed PVE.